Automobile body



0. J. GROEHN AUTOMOBILE BODY May 13, 1930.

Filed. June 26, 1928 ill/llmrlvll ing drawings forming a Dill Patented May 13, 1930 UNIT EB STATES PATENT OFFICE OTTO J. GROEHN, OF GROSSE POINTE PARK, ltilECEEZZGAl-I, iiSSIGHOB T0 HUDSON MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A OORJPORATION OF MICHIGAN AUTOMOBILE BODY Application filed June 26,

'll'his invention relates toautomobile bodies, particularly of the type where substantially all-metal construction is employed, an object of the invention being to improve the construction oi the bodies whereby metallic res onances and tional noises oi the pillars and adjacent panelling c )ecially in the case of doors, will be deadened or damped.

In the use of all-metal bodies, certain objections have been found due to resonances of the metal pillars and panelling. 'lhese objectionable noises are especially notic able in the case of the doors which give out an undesirable metallic ring when closed, or fre quently produce metallic noises due to vibrations when the vehicle being operated.

One of the objects or this invention is to provide practicable and ei'licient means for silencing and deadening the noise in the doors of automobile bodies, when closed, while at the same time providing a relatively simple and i expensive construction which may be readily and easily employed with a minimum oi expense, this being especially advantageous where automobile bodies are produced on a large scale.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and append d claims, reference bein had to the accoinpi t or this specification wherein like reference characters des ignate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is aperspective view illustrating a metal door for an automobile body embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional. view taken subs tially line 2-2,Fig. 1,1oohing in the irect ion of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present in vention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to details of construction and arrangen out of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodii ents and of being practised or caried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminol ogy employed herein is for the purpose of 1328. Serial No. 288,424.

art and the requirements thereof.

in the drawings l have illustrated the inioo lied in a door for a metal ody of l l type. This door lay coin rise a pair of upright metal door pillars 101 connected at their tops and bottoms by sui able cross members and each 1i stamped to provide an inwardly rear side 'mge 10 and also to proi ding front side ii nge I and 10 of the respec'tiv pillars extending in opposite directions as shown. edges of the iianges 10 are ex tended forwardly or ti sversely of the door at 10 to provide a .uanged opening within which the window guides are supported. lzlounted upon the inner face or the door pillar 1G is a relatively i sheet of soundproofing material 11, such as heavy cardboard or fibre board. This sheet forms a non-metallic backing layer for the pillar 10 and is in engagement with the pillar throughout its length. The a at 11 bent to overlie the flange 10 at 11' and preferably covers this lan 's 'throu hout the len 'th hereof. The

c an-Qi- "1.1L, 11 to proover the inner I l 12 stamped out from the .iro' ide permanent outward g the out side of the door a o conform to the curved lines l hen the side edges of this ed or ent around the edges of 's 10 and il the opposite panel are pressed firmly against the portions 11 of the sheet 11 and are held thereagainst under considerable tension. As a result the sheet 11 where it overlies the side flanges of the door pillars will be held between the pillar and the panel 12 under substantial pressure so that as a result the inter 30Sl nonenetallic material will elfectually damp or deaded any metallic vibrational noises commonly resulting in the use of metallic doors of this type.

The door is also provided with the usual window guides 14. Each guide is secured at 16, as by riveting, to a metal angle bracket 15 one flange of the latter being riveted at 1'? to the door pillar 10. The soundproofing sheet 11 is interposed between the flange 15 of the b-rac re; 15 and the inside face of the pillar l0 and is clamped in position between these parts. The window guide l lis provided with an extension 14 oven inethe door aillar L3 flange 10 and these parts are riveted together at 20 in such manner that the inner free edge of the extension 14, which may be turned out to provide a flange 14, will engage the marginal edge of the sheet and clamp it in position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that l have provided a relatively simple and ellicient means whereby metallic resonances in the metal doors may be reduced and deadened. The soundproofing sheet 11 is bent or formed into Z shape so as to conform to the corresponding contour of the inner face of the door pillar 10. This she t is clamped at a point adjacent one edge between a flange of the door pillar and the outer panel, at the opposite edge between a flange of the pillar and an extension of the window guide structure, and at an intermediate point between the pil lar and a supporting bracket for the window guide proper. In this manner the sheet 11 is firmly held in position, so that when the door is slammed in closing it, or when the car is being driven over rough ground, objectionable metallic noises will be prevented.

What I claim is:

1. In a door for an automobile body, a pair of upright metal pillars having at the front thereof oppositely extending flanges, a sheet metal panel extending over said flanges, a non-1netallic soundproofing sheet covering the inner surface of each pillar and bent to es:- tend over each flange, the edges of said panel being bent around the edges or" said flanges and said sheet, said sheet being interposed between said panel and flanges.

2. In a door for an automobile body, an upright metal pillar having an outwardly extending side flange, a nononetallic soundproofing sheet located on the inner face of said pillar and extending over said flange, and a sheet metal panel having a side edge bent around the edges of said sheet and flange and held under tension against said sheet,

said sheet being interposed between said panel and flange.

3. in a door for an automobile body, a pair of upright metal pillars having outwardly extending side flanges, non-metallic soundproofing sheet shaped to conform to the shape of the inner face of each pillar and covering said flange, and a metal panel having a side edge bent around the edges of said sheet and flange, said sheet being interposed and held under pressure between said panel and flange.

4:. In a door for an automobile body, an upright metal pillar shaped to provide an outwardly extending side flange, a window guide structure secured to said pillar, and a non-metallic soundproofing sheet located on the inner face of said pillar and clamped in position between said pillar and said window guide structure.

5. In a door for an automobile body, a pair of spaced up '1 t -ietal pillars, each formed into suhst ,i iape to prone a central web terminating in oppositely extending outer and inner flanges, soundproofing sheet positioned on the inner face of each pillar, a sheet metal panel joining said pillars and clamping the sheet against said outer flanges, and window gu s having means for clamping the she t against the central webs of the pillars and against said inner flanges.

6. in a door for an automobile body, a unitary upright metal pillar, a sheet metal panel having its edge secured to said pillar, and no11-metallic soundproofing sheet within said pillar and having a aortion interposed between said pillar and panel.

In testimony whereof in my signature.

OTTO J. GROEHN. 

